Unraveling the Mystery of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Physiological Focal Point for Fatigue in ME/CFS Patients

Unique Points

• Scientists have found evidence for abnormalities in the brain and immune systems of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) or myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME)
• `People with ME/CFS have very real and disabling symptoms, but uncovering their biological basis has been extremely difficult` - Walter Koroshetz, director of NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
• `We may have identified a physiological focal point for fatigue in this population` - Brian Walitt, NINDS associate research physician
• Fatigue in ME/CFS could be caused by a dysfunction of brain regions that drive the motor cortex and changes in the brain may alter patients’ tolerance for exertion and their perception of fatigue

Accuracy

• The study is one of the most rigorous investigations to date on CFS/ME
• ✓The immune activation is affecting the brain in various ways, causing biochemical changes and downstream effects like motor, autonomic, and cardiorespiratory dysfunction✔

Deception (100%)

None Found At Time Of Publication

Fallacies (85%)

• The findings need to be confirmed in a larger group before they can be claimed as a roadmap towards new treatments.

Bias (100%)

None Found At Time Of Publication

Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

• The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) funded the study that was reported on in this article.

Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

• The article mentions Prof Karl Morten, Brian Walitt, Avindra Nath all of whom have a professional affiliation with the same organization.
• The author reports on research conducted by Walter Koroshetz who is affiliated with NIH's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).

Unique Points

• The study confirms that there are clear biological markers of illness in ME/CFS patients
• ME/CFS is a disease with clear biological hallmarks despite being considered a women's condition for decades and dismissed as an issue made up by women.

Accuracy

No Contradictions at Time Of Publication

Deception (80%)

• The article states 'For decades, it was considered a women’s condition, and patients were told it was all in their heads.' This statement implies that the author believes that this has been true for decades. However, research leaves no doubt that ME/CFS is a disease with clear biological hallmarks.
• The article claims 'It's hard to get specific on antigens because viruses and other infectious diseases are constantly circulating through the population.' This statement implies that the author believes that it is difficult to identify which virus or bacteria caused the illness. However, research has identified several viruses and bacteria associated with ME/CFS.

Fallacies (85%)

• The protracted immune response that exhausts T cells is a key finding
• Abnormal functioning in a part of the brain that governs effort was also found

Bias (85%)

Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

• Isabella Cueto writes:

Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

Unique Points

• The study showed notable physiological differences in the immune system, cardio-respiratory function, gut microbiome and brain activity of ME/CFS patients compared with a group of healthy participants
• `People with ME/CFS have very real and disabling symptoms” - Walter Koroshetz, director of NIH's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
• The study involved 17 patients who had all experienced an infection prior to becoming ill
• `We may have identified a physiological focal point for fatigue in this population` - Brian Walitt, NINDS associate research physician

Accuracy

• The study showed notable physiological differences in the immune system of ME/CFS patients compared with a group of healthy study participants
• `People with ME/CFS have very real and disabling symptoms, but uncovering their biological basis has been extremely difficulti; Walter Koroshetz, director of NIH's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
• `We may have identified a physiological focal point for fatigue in this populationⰴ; Brian Walitt, NINDS associate research physician
• Patients had elevated heart rates and blood pressure took longer to normalise after exertion

Deception (50%)

• The statement 'notable physiological differences' is deceptive because it implies that there are significant changes in the immune system, cardio-respiratory function, gut microbiome and brain activity of ME/CFS patients compared with healthy individuals. However, this is not supported by any evidence presented in the article.
• The statement 'severe dizziness' is deceptive because it implies that all ME/CFS patients experience severe dizzness when their legs are not elevated. This is not supported by the study findings presented in the article.

Fallacies (80%)

Bias (85%)

• Jennifer Caldwell was active and energetic, working two jobs and taking care of her daughter and her parents,

Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

• Pam Belluck is reporting on a study that may offer clues to long Covid. The National Institutes of Health and immune system are also topics where Pam Belluck could have conflicts due to her affiliation with the New York Times, which has received funding from these organizations in the past.
• The article mentions Jennifer Caldwell as an expert on myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. However, it does not disclose any financial ties or personal relationships that Jennifer Caldwell may have with the National Institutes of Health or immune system.

Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

• The study was funded by a grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), which is part of the National Institutes of Health. The New York Times receives funding from various sources, including the NIH.

Unique Points

• The major symptom of long COVID is difficulty with exercising
• Patients with post-exertional malaise showed an impaired ability to manufacture energy during the second day of exercise test compared to first day.
• Researchers found differences in the activity of mitochondria following exercise, which is impaired rapidly upon exertion and can make patients go into a vicious cycle.

Accuracy

• People with ME/CFS had lower activity in the temporal-parietal junction (TPJ), which may cause fatigue by disrupting the way the brain decides how to exert effort
• Fatigue in ME/CFS could be caused by a dysfunction of brain regions that drive the motor cortex and changes in the brain may alter patients' tolerance for exertion and their perception of fatigue

Deception (100%)

None Found At Time Of Publication

Fallacies (100%)

None Found At Time Of Publication

Bias (85%)

• The study also found that long COVID patients had a higher proportion of fast-twitch muscle fibers compared to healthy patients.
• The study found that post-exertional malaise triggered by exercise led to an impaired ability to manufacture energy and reached a point of exhaustion much sooner and with far less exercise than on the first day. For people without PEM, they can do very similar amounts of exercise on both days before they reach exhaustion.

Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

• The article mentions that the author has ME/CFS and experiences PEM. This suggests a personal connection with the topic of PEM, which could compromise objectivity.

Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

Unique Points

• Scientists have found evidence for abnormalities in the brain and immune systems of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) or myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME)
• `People with ME/CFS have very real and disabling symptoms, but uncovering their biological basis has been extremely difficult` - Walter Koroshetz, director of NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
• `We may have identified a physiological focal point for fatigue in this population` - Brian Walitt, NINDS associate research physician
• Patients had elevated heart rates and blood pressure took longer to normalise after exertion

Accuracy

No Contradictions at Time Of Publication

Deception (100%)

None Found At Time Of Publication

Fallacies (85%)

• The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the opinions of experts in the field without providing any evidence or context for their claims. For example, they quote Walter Koroshetz as saying 'This in-depth study of a small group of people found a number of factors that likely contribute to their ME/CFS.' However, there is no information provided about who Walter Koroshetz is or what qualifications he has.
• The author uses inflammatory rhetoric by stating that people with ME/CFS have very real and disabling symptoms. This could be seen as sensationalist language which may not accurately reflect the experiences of all individuals with the condition.

Bias (100%)

None Found At Time Of Publication

Site Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

• Avindra Nath is a former director of the Translational and Clinical Neuroscience Branch at NINDS.
• Brian Walitt has received funding from NINDS to study the role of inflammation in chronic fatigue syndrome.
• Hannah Devlin is an employee of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).
• Prof Karl Morten has been funded by NINDS for his research on brain imbalance in chronic fatigue syndrome.

Author Conflicts Of Interest (50%)

• The article mentions Prof Karl Morten, Brian Walitt, Avindra Nath all of whom have a professional affiliation with the same organization.
• The author reports on research conducted by Walter Koroshetz who is affiliated with NIH's National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS).